Python SimpleHTTPServer Change Service Directory

Question

I wrote the following piece of code to start an HTTP server, with a future option of being able to start a TCP/IP server instead:

import SimpleHTTPServer
import SocketServer
import time
import socket

def choose():
if raw_input("Would you like to start an HTTP or TCP/IP Server?: ") == "HTTP":
    print "You have selected HTTP server."
    if raw_input("Is this correct? Use Y/N to answer. ") == "Y":
        print ""
        start_HTTP()
    else:
        choose()
else:
    print "Goodbye! "

def start_HTTP():
    PORT = int(raw_input("Which port do you want to send out of? "))
    Handler = SimpleHTTPServer.SimpleHTTPRequestHandler
    httpd = SocketServer.TCPServer(("", PORT), Handler)
    print "Please wait one moment..."
    time.sleep(2)
    run_HTTP(PORT, httpd)

def run_HTTP(PORT, httpd):
    print "Use the following IP address to connect to this server (LAN only): " + [(s.connect(('8.8.8.8', 80)), s.getsockname()[0], s.close()) for s in [socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)]][0][1] #prints local IP address
    print "Now serving from port: ", PORT
    print "To shutdown the server, use the PiServer_Off software."
    time.sleep(2)
    print ""
    print "Any traffic through the server will be recorded and displayed below: "
    httpd.serve_forever()

choose()

I want to change the directory so that at a future point, no one but the host machine can terminate the server (since the PiServer Off software will be installed in the same directory).

I found this solution, but it looks to be for a shell, and I do not know how to modify it for my code (using Pycharm): http://www.tecmint.com/python-simplehttpserver-to-create-webserver-or-serve-files-instantly/

# pushd /x01/tecmint/; python –m SimpleHTTPServer 9999; popd;

I also found this but it does not seem to answer my question: Change directory Python SimpleHTTPServer uses

I was wondering if anyone could share and explain their way of changing the directory without moving the server file, as I want to use this to build an in-home file-sharing system.

Thanks!

Use os.chdir then follow as you normally would.

Malik Brahimi
– Malik Brahimi

2015-07-06 17:01:35 +00:00
Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 17:01 — Malik Brahimi
– Malik Brahimi, Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 17:01

Vinícius M · Accepted Answer · 2020-03-13 17:48:08Z

3

The question How to run a http server which serves a specific path? is basically a duplicate of this one.
However, the solution proposed by Andy Hayden over there seems more appropriate.
(It's less 'hacky'/ dependent on side effects, and uses the class constructor instead.)

Goes like this:

import http.server
import socketserver

PORT = 8000
DIRECTORY = "web"


class Handler(http.server.SimpleHTTPRequestHandler):
    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        super().__init__(*args, directory=DIRECTORY, **kwargs)


with socketserver.TCPServer(("", PORT), Handler) as httpd:
    print("serving at port", PORT)
    httpd.serve_forever()

The code above works for Python >= 3.6
For Python up to 3.5, there was no contextmanager protocol available for TCPServer's base class, but that just means you need to change the with statement and turning it into a plain assignment:

httpd = socketserver.TCPServer(("", PORT), Handler)

Credits to Anthony Sottile for this last detail.

edited Mar 13, 2020 at 17:48

answered Mar 12, 2020 at 17:08

Vinícius M

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1 Comment

xuhdev Over a year ago

The directory option doesn't seem to be on Python 3.6 document. It shows on Python 3.7 onward.

Malik Brahimi · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-06 17:33:58Z

0

Use os.chdir to change the current directory then follow as you normally would to start the server.

answered Jul 6, 2015 at 17:33

Malik Brahimi

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